SINGAPORE, Sept 17 — People know him better as “that guy from ‘The Fault In Our Stars’” or as Caleb Prior in the “Divergent” movie series, but actor Ansel Elgort also has another talent: He’s the electronic dance music (EDM) artiste known as Ansolo.

He is also popping over to Singapore to perform as part of the line-up at Road To Ultra Singapore, an EDM music festival happening this Saturday. Headlining acts on the roster include Skrillex, Nicky Romero and Alesso.

“I’m very excited. Ultra knows how to put on a good show. I think it will be a lot of fun,” said Elgort.

He first got into music learning to play the piano when he was 12, and learnt how to produce electronic music during his senior year in high school, which he said opened up a whole new way of making music.

Citing influences such as Steve Angello, Mat Zo and Tom Staar, among others; Elgort, as Ansolo, primarily produces tracks in the progressive house genre, but also delves into progressive’s new sub-genre called groovy house. He also works with producer, Pierce Fulton, as the duo, Shirts And Skins.

Elgort said his stage moniker, Ansolo, was derived from a nickname his brother used to call him.

“About four years ago, when I started DJing and producing records I wanted to come up with my artiste name,” explained the 21-year-old. “A lot of electronic dance music names are fun and light-hearted (and) Ansolo is a name my brother used to call me. I thought it was cool, but also fun and light-hearted. Dance music is supposed to be fun, it’s supposed to make you dance, so why come into it with a super self-serious name?”

But being an EDM artiste is more than just DJing and pushing buttons, said Elgort, adding that the genre is very underrated. “I understand why people have trouble understanding it,” he said. “Most of the work happens behind the scenes. We spend countless hours writing, producing, engineering records. We do everything ourselves.

“(But) here’s the problem: People go see a show and they just see somebody DJing. Most of the time yes, they are just DJing, which in our world means, transitioning from song to song,” he continued. “The difference between a club DJ and an artist who has thousands of people coming to see them is the fact that they play their own music. Music that they write, produce and engineer.

“The outsider sometimes doesn’t realise that the DJ on stage with a huge crowd isn’t there because he or she is good at DJing; they’re there because they’re good at making records that people want to hear live.”

Nevertheless, Elgort said he would like to do more than just DJ. “I want to have live bands and singers and better stage design. That’s in the future though — right now I just want to make those songs that people will connect with.”

Elgort said fans of his movies and his music fans are different, but he hopes both groups will turn up for Road To Ultra Singapore.

“I have fans who have become my fans because they are big fans of Steve Angello; and after I was on his label last year, I gained his fans who look to follow any artiste he signs. I am also lucky because I do have crossover fans as well. I love the crowds at my shows because it seems like a mix of a lot of different people, which is what a dance show should be like. Everyone is welcome and included.” — TODAY

*Road To Ultra happens this Saturday (September 19), 8pm at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre. Ticketing details at http://ultrasingapore.com.